The new Lutherie: orchestration, grammar, aesthetics

A study on the new lutherie and its influence on the contemporary written musical language.

Aims

Two aims are part of this research project. To invite the musical community to consider a renewal of the western orchestras, introducing a new lutherie inside their families of instruments. At the same time, to suggest a grammar and an aestethics related to these new instruments.

Methods

The first stage consisted of an analysis of the XXth century orchestral repertoire, developed together with the students of my orchestration and theory of composition class. Then we produced a catalogue of the new lutherie: digital instruments, electric instruments, concrete instruments.

Finally I worked on the elements of grammar and aesthetics that arise from the use of the new lutherie.

Results

The book "The new lutherie: orchestration, grammar, aestethics", written during the development of the research project in 2009-10, will be published in 2012 by Edizioni Suvini Zerboni. Inside the book I suggest a system to face and approach a new repertoire using musical instruments that are part of the new lutherie.